Month: May 2014

The heart of the Causeway Coast and Glens newest nautical festival returns with a boom this year as the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival was launched by Chair of Moyle District Council Cara McShane, Michael Cecil from the Rathlin Community and Paul Kerrigan from Ballycastle community on Thursday 1^st May.

The Festival, now in its second year, celebrates the rich maritime heritage and history of Rathlin Island and Ballycastle and promises to be a week of spectacular sailing and sod-based activities.

Organised by Moyle District Council, Ballycastle Community Development Group and the Rathlin Development & Community Association, and sponsored by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, there will be something for land and sea lovers, with sailing, historic and modern craft, demonstrations, exhibitions and guided walks, seafood themed markets as well as menus, music and entertainment.

Chairperson of Moyle District Council Cllr Cara McShane said, “We are really looking forward to welcoming visitors and locals to Rathlin Island and Ballycastle. The beauty of the Causeway Coast and Glens is renowned the world over and the Rathlin Sound is a hidden gem that is ready to be discovered.”

Caroline Carey, Tourism Development Officer, Moyle District Council , said “Following the success of last year’s event, we’ve come back bigger and better with a range of events and activities for all the family. Whether you want to try your hand at paddle boarding or kayaking, take a sunset boat trip in one of the most scenic locations in Ireland or simply taste the best of local fayre – with a market, special seafood menus in local restaurants and cookery demonstrations – there will be something for everyone to enjoy at the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival. There are plenty of events to choose from including fantastic family friendly events.”

The celebration is centred on Rathlin Sound, the body of water that lies between Rathlin Island and Ballycastle on the spectacular north coast of Ireland, right in the heart of the Causeway Coast and Glens and the opening weekend will feature a fancy dress parade with the backdrop of the Tall Ship and finishing with music and a seafood barbeque on 23 May in the Diamond, Ballycastle.

“Over the course of the week we will be celebrating our passion for the sea, local culture, heritage and history culminating in Rathlin’s ‘Big Lunch’, music from ‘Goats Don’t Shave’ and traditional boat races on the 1^st June. We look forward to visitors arriving by boat and of course by road, bike and bus and cannot wait to share our little part of the world with the world.

“The packed programme includes walking tours, boat trips; sports such as paddle boarding, kayaking and dinghy sailing and both Ballycastle and Rathlin will definitely be ‘sounding off’ with a programme of traditional music including street entertainers’ competition open to everyone, traditional sessions in local pubs and hotels.”

The festival will run from 23 May – 1 June. For further information about the festival log on to www.heartofthecausewaycoastandglens.com/maritimefestival or contact Ballycastle Visitor Information Centre 028 2076 2024.

It has been 1,000 years since Brian Ború, High King of Ireland, went to battle with the Vikings at The Battle of Contarf and as part of Armagh’s Brian Ború millennium celebrations, a large scale Viking Tented Village will be on The Mall in Armagh City from Saturday 3^rd to Sunday 4^th May as Armagh City and District Council invites you to explore what life was like in Medieval times.

The event is the finale to a thirteen day festival, commemorating Brian Ború’s connections with Armagh and his burial at Saint Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral. The special festival of events forms part of an Ireland-wide commemoration of the millennium anniversary. Armagh, as the final resting place of Brian Ború is one of four locations across Ireland taking part in the national programme and joins Clare, which was the seat of Brian’s High Kingship of Ireland, Tipperary, where Brian was crowned High King and Dublin, where Brian Ború was killed following his victory over the Viking rulers of Dublin at the Battle of Clontarf, in the special commemorations.

The Viking Tented Village on Saturday 3^rd and Sunday 4^th May will see over 100 Viking warriors set up camp in the encampment for the weekend. Visitors will get the chance to see how life was in Brian Ború’s lifetime as Viking re-enactors work, cook, eat and sleep on site. Mock battles and a longship abandoned on The Mall will give visitors a glimpse of what life might have been like at the time.

Re-enactment group Fingal Living History Society, who travel all over Europe re-enacting Viking life, will set up the replica village, featuring over twenty Viking tents, to provide an insight into the daily life of the invaders, with costumed characters taking part in a range of activities from making weapons to cooking. There will also be children’s story-telling and talks on The Battle of Clontarf.

The Viking Tented Village will consist of:

• Living History Encampment: an area with authentic tents featuring Viking warriors and Viking families. The encampment will also have an exhibition featuring crafts displays including blacksmithing, fabric crafts, silversmith, leather work, bone carving, carpentry, pottery,  coin minting and much more.
• Falconry display: There will be falconry displays at 1.00pm and 4.00pm each day, with visitors being given an opportunity to see Golden Eagles, Vultures, Hawks and Owls in flight.
• Cookery Displays: learn about the ancient cooking methods with camp fire cooking displays. All the re-enactors will be wearing authentic Viking dress and using authentic replica tools.
• Military Display: Viking weapons and armoury will be on display with the re-enactors giving a short presentation on the weapons and their uses. Members of the public will be given the opportunity to ask questions and hold the weapons and armour.

The village will be open to visitors from 11.00am to 5.00pm on Saturday 3^rd May and 1.00pm to 4.30pm on Sunday 4^th May. Falconry displays will take place at 1.00pm and 4.00pm daily, craft demonstrations at 3.00pm daily and children’s story-telling at 2.30pm and 3.30pm daily. Admission to the event is free.

Guides for the Brian Ború festival are currently available at City Centre venues or they can be downloaded from www.armagh.co.uk. For further details contact Armagh Visitor Information Centre on 028 3752 1800.

Visit Springhill, Moneymore this May bank holiday weekend where the beautiful National Trust property will once again come to life with the sights and sounds of a bygone era as it hosts its fantastic Vintage Fête for a 2^nd year.

The event welcomed nearly 3000 visitors in 2013 and this year’s event is set to be bigger and better. Visitors can pick up some retro and vintage inspired china, home furnishings, bunting, jewellery, soaps, candles and other handcrafted items from our quirky range of handpicked trade stands.

Specialising in supplying the ultimate party pieces, ‘Granny Shaws’ vintage candy will attend the event for the first time. They offer a wide range of products from handmade candy, popcorn, bespoke chocolate and candy floss. Local lady Jill Morton, also known as ‘Jill’s Cakes’ will also attend the event for the first time on bank holiday Monday. Jill will be selling homemade vintage cupcakes and cake-pops and visitors can pick up a bargain 6 cupcakes for £5.

On Sunday 4^th May, visitors can relax in the beautiful gardens of Springhill and enjoy the charismatic sounds from Kelly Smiley. Expect to hear classic tracks from artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Etta James and of course those hits from the classic Ratpack greats. On bank holiday Monday 5^th May visitors will be entertained by the sophisticated sounds of the Swing Gals, one of Northern Ireland’s only all-girl vocal collectives, well known for their close harmonies and interpretations of jazz, pop and easy listening favourites.

Another highlight of the event will be the spectacular display of nostalgic games and attractions; Coconut shys, ‘Splat the Rat’ and ‘Hoopla’ to name but a few will keep the whole family entertained for hours. Swing boats, a sky rider, a vintage rifle range and Springhill’s very own fortune tellers ‘Mystic Meg and her sister Peg’ will complete the entertainment line-up.

Springhill Vintage Fête will take place at Springhill, Moneymore on Sunday 4 and Monday 5 May from 12-5pm. Normal Admission, National Trust Members Free. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/springhill